About MeI started riding after my partner, Bill, and I took a European cruise in 2002 that took us to Oslo, Norway. For our excursion that particular day, we chose a bicycle tour of the city. It was a fabulous day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Upon our return from the trip, I got down the hybrid I had bought several years earlier (for exercise, and had only used a couple times) and started riding more. And more. We live in Hollister, about 90 miles SE of San Francisco, and about 50 miles from San Jose or Monterey. Initially I was quite satisfied riding from our house around Santa Ana Valley, then later extended that to include the Cienega Valley. And then I discovered organized rides. I signed (us) up for several rides, 25 miles for the Surf City and Strawberry Fields; Bill was quite patient and came along so we could do them together. It wasn't till I signed us up for the 40 mile ride, 20 miles up and 20 miles down Carmel Valley Road that he admitted he did not enjoy cycling like I did, it was work to him after 10 miles. And this particular ride included 2500 feet of climbing in the 20 miles up hill (I had no idea what 2500 feet in 20 miles meant at the time, honest!) But he encouraged me to continue on my own and the summer of 2003, I joined Different Spokes San Francisco. In the spring of 2004, I purchased my road bike, and that summer I completed my first century, the Marin, and promptly followed that up with the Tour of Napa Valley and then Surf City, logging nearly 3500 miles that year. I guess you could say I was hooked. I work in Sunnyvale as Operations Manager for a commercial HVAC service company, have been there 27 years. Bill & I have been together 16+ years and we have lived in Hollister since 1996. We have two 4-legged children; Merlin, the 13 year old flat-eared Scottish Fold, and 2 year old Tadd, the Schipperkee. To RSVP for or just see the list of upcoming training rides I am scheduled for, please scroll down. Photos from recent ALC training rides-- --Peninsula CAT 3 Long Distance Mt. View double metric - 5/17
--Expo Ride #1 Tiburon loop, Sun 3/30
--Peninsula CAT 3 Mt View San Ramon ride, Sat 3/29
--Return to Hollister Hills: Gilroy Hot Springs ride, Sat 3/22
--Quadbuster test ride, Sun 3/9
--South Bay CAT 2 Sunnyvale-Edgewood ride, Sun 3/2
--Silverado Trail - Napa ride, Sat 3/1
--Hollister Hills CAT 2-Cienega-Quien Sabe ride, Sat 2/23
--South Bay CAT 2 Sunnyvale-Blue Rock Shoot ride, Sun 2/17
--South Bay CAT 2 Sunnyvale-Tripp Road ride, Sun 2/10
--Peninsula CAT 3 Mt View Foothills ride, Sat 2/2
--Hollister Hills CAT 2 Quien Sabe-Cienega ride, Sat 1/26
--Peninsula CAT 3 Mt View-Los Gatos ride, Sat 1/19 Besides the training rides you see below, I will be participating in the following Organized Rides, put on by various cycling organizations and charities, between now and the Ride. April 19 - Tierra Bella Century, Gilroy April 20 - Sea Otter Classic Road Century Tour May 3 - Wine Country Century (double metric) May 18 - Strawberry Fields Forever Century For a complete listing for Northern California rides (and some others) go the the Different Spokes Century Rides listing. |
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Why I Participate in AIDS/LifeCycleIn 2004, a number of Different Spokes members were doing ALC3. I was a new member at the time and I was amazed and captivated, following along each day on the AIDS/LifeCycle web site, watching the videos and pouring thru the photos. Initially, I signed up for ALC4 because of the physical challenge. But living in Hollister has somewhat isolated me from the reality of AIDS and HIV, 27 years and there is still no cure. In the spring of 2006, several official ALC training rides came to Hollister, thanks to Rick Warren, a Hollister native. And folks discovered that we've got some pretty nice country to ride in down here. I was unofficial ride leader since I knew the territory. And so last year I became a Training Ride Leader, at the coaxing of Downtown Julie Brown and Bob Jensen; it didn't take much. |
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Geographic LocationHollister - San Benito County Event(s) I've Participated InALC4, 5 & 6 and many, many, many organized rides |
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